It's been a while since my last blog. Besides working with my client's, this year I am working to declutter and update my own home, from top to bottom. I am giving myself this entire year to do so.

My son recently moved out and that now leaves me with an extra bedroom. I took my time to figure out what I wanted to do with that room. About a month ago, I decided to create a reading room with a beach theme.

Two of my passions are the beach and reading. Since I live in suburbs outside of Philadelphia, PA, our beach season does not last as long as I would like. Therefore, I am extending that feeling of calm and relaxation within my own home.

I have painted the walls a sandy beach beige. The carpeting is dark blue and I am leaving it that way. (It will represent the sea.) I will be putting a small area rug in front of the love seat I am repurposing from my family room with a beach theme inspired design.  I purchased new window treatments with decorative sea shell beads along the top, a seashell filled lamp, a wicker end table and new bookcases to fill with books that I treasure. I will be purchasing some wall decor and other items to complete the look.

The reason I mention all of this is that I want to make a point.

It is very important that, as we go through life changes, we make sure that our real estate reflects those changes. Whether it's a child moving out the home, like mine, or the birth of a new baby, a marriage, a divorce, the death of a spouse or elder parent who had lived in the home, we need to be sure that the real estate we own is being used to its best potential.

Time and time again, when working with new clients, I always make sure that all of the areas of the home are being used.  Often I find that there are bedrooms that lay idle and become a dumping spot for clutter, or a basement is not utilized as good storage space, a garage is so cluttered it does not have enough room for a car.

Over the years, I have transformed many under-utilized rooms in my client's home into something they can use and enjoy, creating a space that reflects their interests.

When life creates change, be sure that your home reflects that change. Reassess the rooms in your home and transform them into something you can use and enjoy. Leaving your precious real estate idle is a waste of space and money. You paid for the real estate; use it.

If you are overwhelmed with the prospect of creating a new purpose for an old space, don't hesitate to contact me. I can not only help you to visual a room to meet your needs, but help eliminate the clutter, get it organized and take the steps needed to see it come to fruition.

It's all about having A Better Space!

Do you remember the movie "Mommy Dearest"!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUkE9qaVgmo. It was such a frightening scene when Joan Crawford was screaming "NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!". I will never forget it! 

These days, in a much calmer tone, I gently explain to my clients why I am not a fan of wire hangers. And this is why:   

Wire hangers can cause damage to your clothing when clothes are left on them after returning from the dry cleaners or simply used to store clothing. They can affect the shape of the shoulders and can actually create rust. (I had a client once who used wire hangers and had a cream colored suit that she had kept on the wire hanger from the dry cleaner. When we were reviewing her wardrobe to organize her closet, we discovered, unfortunately, that the wire hanger on her suit had rusted, leaving a permanent stain. The beautiful suit was ruined.)

Also, when it comes to dry cleaning your clothes, be sure to remove the plastic bag they are returned in. There are chemicals used when the dry cleaning process is used. If you keep the bag on the clothes when they arrive home, these harmful chemicals stay trapped in the clothing.

I highly recommend that "no more wire hangers" are kept on your clothing in your closet. Switch them to plastic or velvet slim hangers instead. The next time you head to your dry cleaner, take all of your unused wire hangers with you. Most dry cleaners recycle hangers and actually appreciate you returning them because it saves them money. You get rid of clutter in your closet and help keep landfills free of hangers.

Also, unless you have a need for the plastic bags they wrap around your clothing, you can ask for the dry cleaner to keep the bags off of your clothes. It keeps you from having to toss the bag when you get home, and again saves the dry cleaner money. Also, men’s dress shirts can be folded instead of put on a hanger so that you don’t have to take a hanger home with you at all!

When you go to pick up your clothes at the dry cleaners, take your plastic hangers or thin velvet hangers and garment bags with you. It's just like taking reusable shopping bags with you when you go grocery shopping. That way you don’t even need to take their wire hangers and their plastic bags home at all.

Now you will no longer have wire hangers and with these tips, you will have an organized, clean and safe wardrobe in your clothes closet to enjoy. 

If you are overwhelmed with the thought of getting your wardrobe decluttered and organized, don't hesitate to contact me. As always, l am here to help. 

Spring is finally here and the flu season appears to be behind us. I spent the entire Winter season doing everything possible to avoid getting the flu and the good news is, I was successful. That is something that is very contagious in a bad way.

However, there are things that are contagious in a good way! For example: laughter, smiles, a good mood and even a yawn. Did you know that contagious yawning is a sign of empathy and a form of social bonding?

Also, getting organized can be contagious! Yes! That's right. I have seen time and time again how, when I work with a client in their home, other members of the family get the "organizing bug". 

I tend to work mostly with busy moms who are struggling to find the balance in their physical space as well as in their heads with time management, etc.

On many occasions, I work with Busy Mom and in the beginning, Dad is not on board. It is interesting to watch how they begin to see the transformation and want a piece of that. They start organizing a sock drawer or getting rid of some paperwork, simply by seeing what is going on.

Most recently, I began working with a family who has several autistic children, one of which is very sensitive to change. I have no intention of pushing that child to straighten up their room or move anything around that they do not want touched. However, Mom recently got in touch with me and told me that her child has observed the changes being made in her master bedroom and took it upon himself to go into his own room and remove the trash and straighten up his video games.

Needless to say, I am thrilled! I want nothing more than for the children to enjoy an organized and peaceful environment in which to live. Whether I help them or they take it upon themselves to do it on their own, it's a positive outcome. 

This is a perfect example of how getting organized can be contagious - in a good way!

If you and your family are struggling with clutter and want to get organized, consider starting the process yourself or with a professional organizer such as myself and you just might find that your family get's the "organizing bug" and starts organizing their spaces on their own.  

How great would that be!

Over the years, I have heard, time and time again, "So how long is this all going to take?". It's a fair question, but not always easy to answer. The honest answer is "It depends."

There are several factors that come into play when determining the answer to this question:

1. How many items are currently in the space you want to organize?

2. What types of things are in the space?

3. What kind of decision maker are you?

4. Does anyone else need to be involved in the decision making?

5. What is the vision you have for the space when it's done?

6. How will you dispose of unwanted items?

Rooms that are the same size can hold drastically different amounts of things. Closets can be stuffed to the brim or under-utilized. Paperwork can take a long time to go through because each piece of paper needs to be reviewed so a home office could take much longer to organize. However, a linen closet or a room filled with furniture will tend not to take as long to go through and make decisions about. It all depends on the contents in the space.

Some people make decisions quickly and are not as emotionally attached to their possessions. Other people need more time to decide. My experience has been that some want to tell me a story about the object before deciding to let it go. That is perfectly normal and understandable as it is a way of letting go. It all depends on what type of decision maker you are. Also, are you the only one that is making the decisions or do you need approval from another family member and a compromise is needed?

Do you have a clear vision of what you want the space to look like in the end? Do you want to re-organize all of the kitchen cabinets and drawers or just the pantry? Depending on what you need to accomplish will determine how long it will take.

How specific you want to be will play a role in how long your organizing project might take.

Lastly, the project is not completed until the items you decide not to keep are disposed of. Do you want to take the time to sell them, donate them or simply throw them away. Sometimes, it a combination of all of them.  The key is to quickly get rid of the items once you decide to do so. Do not hold onto them for that once-a-year yard sale!

Generally, once I start working with a client, I can determine how long, in general, it will take to finish the task. They play a key role in how long it will take. Of course, I am there to guide my clients and keep them focused on the project so it can get completed as quickly as possible. Accountability goes a long way in being successful and efficient. I always make sure my clients understand how varying factors will have an effect on how long it will take to get the job done. 

If you need to get any area of your home under control and organized, need guidance with time management, paper management or budgeting of your finances, don't hesitate to contact me. As always, I am here to help.

Now that the holidays are behind you and you've had time to put the decorations away and evaluate your gifts, you might have received an item or two that you considered re-gifting. Are you feeling guilty about even thinking that way? Are you going on a guilt trip?  

Have you ever thought about re-gifting something? Have you ever thought about it and decided that you couldn't do it because you felt it would be rude, tacky or downright wrong?

Re-gifting was once considered rude and unacceptable behavior. It was considered "poor etiquette".

In today's society, when we are trying to be green, economical and trying to reduce our clutter, we shop at thrift stores and recycle where we can. Re-gifting can fall into that realm of avoiding waste. However, there are rules that do apply. The good thing is, it is now acceptable behavior. It all depends on the situation. 

Re-gifting can have a bad connotation because, sometimes the re-gifter is just thoughtlessly unloading something he or she doesn't want, to someone who doesn't want or need the item either. It all has to do with intent. Are you taking that particular person into consideration, thinking about their likes and dislikes, and hoping they will enjoy the item when giving them a gift? 

However, re-gifting is perfectly fine when certain guidelines are applied and certain criteria are met. Do you know what those guidelines are? 

Here is how to do it, and do it right:

1. The item must be brand-new. This doesn't mean "last year's brand-new". It should not have been opened previously, never played with, never worn, washed or even tried on. It should be in it's original, undamaged packaging. Don't give a gift to someone who might return it to the store and be told "We haven't carried this item in years"! 

2. Be sure the person who gave you the gift doesn't know the person receiving the gift. Keep in mind, the more unusual the gift, the greater distance there should be between the giver and the re-giftee. The intent might be good but the outcome might not. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

3. Don't confuse re-gifting something you recently received from a friend or family member which you know that individual would enjoy with something you've had in your closet for years or lying in the basement unused.  If you have a piece of jewelry or a handmade quilt that you want to pass down to someone, just give it to them, but don't wrap it up and pass it off as a new purchase. 

4. Don't re-gift just to get rid of something to avoid spending money.  Remember, what you give as a gift is a reflection of you and your taste. You tend to give someone a gift to show that you care about them and have put thought and some effort into purchasing something for them you know they would enjoy. If your motive is simply to save money, that's for the wrong reason.  

5. Don't re-gift something someone has made for you. That is insulting to that person who took the time to make it just for you.

Only you can decide whether to re-gift something you have received. The basis of good manners is consideration and respect for others. Consider the circumstances and, if you are in doubt, just don't do it. However, if it is done out of the goodness of your heart, go right ahead!  

If you have received any gifts which you would like to re-gift to someone, follow the guidelines above and you will be reducing the "clutter" in your home by passing along a nice gift to someone else who will make use of it. (No guilt necessary!)

Many times we are ready to gather the items in our home that we no longer need or want but are unsure as to where we can donate them. Some items can be more challenging than others. A local donation site might not take what you have to offer.

When you are ready to donate and don't know where, here are a list of suggestions to help you out. 

Medical Equipment - Many times when I am working with a client who had an elderly relative living with them or is cleaning out that elderly person's home, we come across medical equipment that is no longer needed. https://www.med-eq.org/Donate/ . Med-Eq matches donors with charities that need what the donors are offering. You fill out a simple form online and the staff at Med-Eq will choose a recipient. The receiving party covers any costs such as mailing expenses for smaller items or arrangements are made for pick-up right from your home.

Wigs - There is a wig exchange program which provides free wigs to women experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy. The EBeauty Community can be found at https://www.ebeauty.com/donate-a-wig/.

Musical Instruments - Instruments in the Cloud is a non-profit organization that allows donors to connect with local teachers who are looking for instruments. http://www.instrumentsinthecloud.org/donations/new. For more information, go to http://www.instrumentsinthecloud.org/pages/faqs. 

Homemade Blankets - For those who quilt, knit or crochet and wind up with more quilts or blankets than can ever be used, I recommend Project Linus. https://www.projectlinus.org/donations/. Materials that can be used to make blankets can also be donated, if you want to reduce your stash. (These must come from a smoke-free environment for allergy reasons.)

Lastly, in honor of Veterans Day this month, Operation Gratitude sends care packages to deployed troops, and all those care packages, including Beanie Babies or other small plush toys, as well as gently used ones, are accepted. https://opgrat.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/beanie-babies-for-the-troops/. There are other ways to donate as well, so take some time to review their site.

So, the next time you are in the midst of decluttering and stuck on how to donate certain items, refer back to this list.

As always, I am here to help you create A Better Space.

With Halloween just around the corner, fear tends to sometimes be on our minds. We experience many forms of fear, but the one I want to talk about is being "afraid to admit". 

Over the years when working with so many wonderful people, I have witnessed, time and time again, how the fear of getting organized can stop people in their tracks.

Admittedly, eliminating clutter, for some, can be overwhelming, intimidating and cause a reaction of embarrassment and fear. 

I have found that it's the fear of the unknown that is your worst enemy.

Think about it. You finally get up the nerve to reach out for help after struggling so long with your clutter. That's a big step. Then you contact an expert like me to help. Great! Then the fear sets in. After you have scheduled your first appointment you may find yourself saying "What have I done?!?!?" You are starting to think about all of the areas that are problematic for you in your home, perhaps, and then feel overwhelmed and embarrassed. Maybe, you haven't had anyone come into your home in a while because of your embarrassment.

You imagine that this person is going to come into your home and judge you. You imagine that this person is going to come into your home and just throw everything away. You imagine that you will lose things or things that mean a lot to you will disappear. You imagine that it is going to be harder than you thought.  This is all fear based, right?

Well, I am here to tell you that, when working with a professional organizer such as myself, this will not happen.

I am particularly cognizant of the fact that my new clients will have a tendency to experience these feelings. I never judge, first of all. What good would that do? I am here to help, not judge.  I would never go into someones home and just start throwing things away. How disrespectful!  I always make sure that things are put in a logical place that makes sense for my clients so they can always find them, because we work together to find solutions that work. If something is particularly special, it needs to be honored and have a good, safe place to be stored or displayed so it can be enjoyed.

Amazingly, after just one session, my clients become much more relaxed about the process and can see how what they thought was impossible, is, in fact, possible.  I always focus on the potential of any space so that my client's vision can come to fruition. It is important to me that my clients to feel comfortable working with me. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Some people are afraid to admit that they are struggling with the actual idea of how they are going to get organized and committing to the process.  It feels uncomfortable. They sometimes make excuses as to why they will not follow through, but the truth of the matter is, they are afraid to admit that its the idea of taking on an organizing project that is making them feel uncomfortable, and nothing else.  It's not monetary. It's not that they are too busy. It's not any of that.  

These feelings are normal, but once it is understood what will be happening and how the process works, the fear disappears. The anxiety and embarrassment go away.

Do yourself a favor. If you are contemplating getting organized and fear is holding you back, give me a call. I can explain how I can help, and you need not worry about the process. That is what I am here for, to show you how its done and be right by your side the entire time, supporting you every step of the way.

Bottom line, don't be afraid to admit you are afraid. Don't let your fear prevent you from having A Better Space. 

I sometimes get asked how to plan ahead on a paper calendar or electronic scheduler. I am sure this is an issue for everyone.

Sometimes we have things we need to do so far into the future, we cannot put it on our current calendar, right? Wrong!

For example, you recently got your colonoscopy and will need another one in 10 years. You need to review your Will, Power of Attorney, etc. every few years. You need to change your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide protectors in your home every 10 years. How are you supposed to remember that?!?!

Typically, if you use a paper planner, you might not be able to add something to your calendar for 10 years out.

However, if you use a binder-style planner such as Day-Timer or Circa you could use a to-do list (or just a blank note page) to capture all these future to-dos and carry that list forward, year after year. At the beginning of each year, you could add any relevant items from that list to the upcoming year’s calendar.

I do the same thing with my annual wall calendar in my office. I make notes at the bottom in the Notes section and each year, when I am preparing for the New Year, I carry those notes over to the next year so that I don't miss a deadline to pay my quarterly taxes, renew a certification or a domain name, etc. You can do the same thing.

You simply need to jot it down on your calendar to begin with and then carry it forward year after year.

As a professional organizer, I provide many other tips and tricks just like this one to create an efficient and effective time management system that you can easily implement.

If you would like to learn more about how to make the best use of your time and get your tasks completed, contact me.

As always, I am here to help.

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to start organizing those recipes. Over the years, I have used various methods for organizing the various types of recipes I have gathered.

I sometimes tear recipes out of a magazine or print out recipes I find on line. I also have an array of recipe books.

First, I have a cabinet that is specificially used to organize my recipe books. Years ago, I had one custom made by the Amish because I had the need to store a lot of recipe books close to the kitchen for easy retrieval. I placed it against a small wall that divides my kitchen from my living room in my dining room area. (I am not suggesting that everyone needs to do this, but I have never regretted my decision to do so.) 

Within my recipe cabinet, I have various forms of recipe organization besides the books.

I use an index card box for my "go to" recipes which I typed onto index cards and which I use on a regular basis and have been family favorites for years, including during the holidays. I divide them up with alphabetical index dividers A-Z. (They could also be divided up by category, i.e., desserts, casseroles, vegetables, pasta, etc.)

I use an accordion expandable file for the recipes I have gathered from magazines and online which I need to test out before they become part of my permanent collection. (These are divided up by category as described above.)

Another suggestion I have is to put your full size (8-1/2" x 11") recipes that you have into a 3-ring binder, divided up by category, using sheet protectors to store them. I like this suggestion because you can pull out the sheet from the binder when you want to use it and it will be protected from splatters and spills.

Of course, you can always use your phone or computer to store recipes digitally, but I strongly suggest that you weed through it from time to time to get rid of the recipes you have tried and failed or decided you are no longer interested in them. Otherwise, you are creating digital clutter.

Depending on how much you cook or bake can depend on what type of system would work best for you.

For me, there is not one solution but several that work best.

What solutions can you think of in order to organize your own collection of recipes? Share you ideas here and let's learn from each other so you can have a more organized holiday cooking experience.

In the meantime, if you are simply overwhelmed with your clutter and would like to discuss your particular situation with a professional organizer, don't hesitate to contact me.

As always, I am here to help.

Are your closets and shelves packed to the brim with stuff you never use — or even look at?

You can sell virtually anything on letgo. This intuitive app lets you snap a photo and upload your item in less than 30 seconds. Not only does it remove a lot of the hassle of selling things online, it’s 100% free to use.

But there are also apps for selling more specific stuff to people who might actually be looking for it.

Have a bunch of movies or CDs collecting dust on a shelf? Decluttr will pay you for them!

Decluttr buys your old CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games, plus hardware like cell phones, tablets, game consoles and iPods. Plus, enter PENNY10 at checkout to get an extra 10% for your trade-ins!

For old books from college, you can use Bookscouter. Just type your book’s ISBN into the search bar and the site will connect you with more than 25 of the best-paying and most reputable buyback companies online.

Set a goal to make some extra money by decluttering your home this month! You can do this! 

I worked with a client last month to help declutter and organize her basement. She had tons of DVDs she no longer wanted. She put them on Decluttr.com and was able to make over $50, just like that!  

For more ideas on how to eliminate your clutter and get organized once and for all, contact A Better Space today!